John Hancock Investments builds ETF product and sales team

BOSTON, Sept. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock Investments today announced three new additions to its ETF team. Steven L. Deroian has been named head of ETF strategy, reporting to Philip Fontana, head of product development. Michelle M. Fuller and Burns M. (Mac) Lowry have joined the firm as managing directors, ETF sales specialists, on the institutional sales team, reporting to Todd Cassler, president of institutional distribution.  

In September of 2015, John Hancock Investments launched six strategic beta John Hancock Multifactor ETFs, with underlying indexes designed by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP—a company regarded as one of the pioneers in strategic beta investing—in line with Dimensional's time-tested factor-based approach. The firm expanded its ETF product lineup in March of 2016 by launching five sector multifactor ETFs, also with underlying indexes designed by Dimensional. John Hancock's original six strategic beta ETFs (JHML, JHMM, JHMC, JHMF, JHMH, and JHMT) have been added to Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.'s commission-free ETF program,* Schwab ETF OneSource™. All are available for sale through financial advisors.

"With the successful launch of our ETF business and the overall growth of John Hancock Investments over the past decade, we have built first-class product and sales teams, and we are pleased to have Steve, Michelle, and Mac join us as we continue to expand," said Andrew G. Arnott, president and CEO. "All of us at John Hancock Investments are dedicated to offering a range of investment solutions to investors, and in the ETF area in particular we are committed to helping address the need for performance potential, backed by an investment approach rooted in decades of academic research."

Mr. Deroian, Ms. Fuller, and Mr. Lowry join Will Creedon, director of ETF capital markets, to collectively help build and support the ETF business at John Hancock Investments.

"Steve will ultimately be responsible for overseeing and managing our ETF business to ensure we are positioned in the best possible way for our shareholders," said Mr. Fontana. "Most recently with Rothschild Asset Management, Steve was responsible for developing and launching new smart beta products for the growing market."

Mr. Deroian has more than 20 years' experience in the asset management industry. He spent 18 years at Fidelity Investments, where he helped to build their ETF business, and also worked at F-Squared Investments, where he covered the relationships with many large ETF sponsors and ETF strategists. He is a graduate of Boston College.

"Michelle and Mac join our team as specialists, and will work with our wholesalers on the institutional and retail sales teams providing ETF sales support across distribution channels," said Mr. Cassler. "This is a growing area for us and we plan to add more specialists to the team."

Most recently, Ms. Fuller was senior vice president, ETF strategy, for PIMCO Investments. Prior to that, she held several positions over eight years with State Street Global Advisors, including vice president and senior national accounts manager. She received a bachelor's degree from the Pennsylvania State University, and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) certification.

Mr. Lowry most recently was with BlackRock iShares as an ETF specialist focusing on the bank wealth management channel. He has also held positions with UBS Wealth Management, Bank of America, and Merrill Lynch. He is a graduate of Florida State University and the Securities Industry Institute's program at the Wharton School of Business, and holds CIMA and Certified Private Wealth Advisor certifications.

Each passively managed John Hancock Multifactor ETF seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of a Dimensional-designed index. They are:

• John Hancock Multifactor Large Cap ETF (JHML)
• John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF (JHMM)
• John Hancock Multifactor Consumer Discretionary ETF (JHMC)
• John Hancock Multifactor Consumer Staples ETF (JHMS)
• John Hancock Multifactor Energy ETF (JHME)
• John Hancock Multifactor Financials ETF (JHMF)
• John Hancock Multifactor Healthcare ETF (JHMH)
• John Hancock Multifactor Industrials ETF (JHMI)
• John Hancock Multifactor Materials ETF (JHMA)
• John Hancock Multifactor Technology ETF (JHMT)
• John Hancock Multifactor Utilities ETF (JHMU)

About John Hancock Investments
John Hancock has helped individuals and institutions build and protect wealth since 1862. Today, we are one of America's strongest and most-recognized brands. As a manager of managers, John Hancock Investments searches the world to find proven portfolio teams with specialized expertise for every fund we offer, then we apply vigorous investment oversight to ensure they continue to meet our uncompromising standards and serve the best interests of our shareholders. Our unique approach to asset management has led to a diverse set of investments deeply rooted in investor needs, along with strong risk-adjusted returns across asset classes.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife 
John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada, and the United States. Operating as Manulife in Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, our group of companies offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents, and distribution partners. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were $934 billion (US$718 billion) as of June 30, 2016. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers and administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

Investing involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. There is no guarantee that a fund's investment strategy will be successful. John Hancock Multifactor ETF shares are bought and sold at market price (not NAV), and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP receives compensation from John Hancock in connection with licensing rights to the John Hancock Dimensional indexes. Neither John Hancock Advisers, LLC nor Dimensional Fund Advisors LP guarantees the accuracy and/or completeness of an index (each an underlying index) or any data included therein, and neither John Hancock Advisers, LLC nor Dimensional Fund Advisors LP shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein. Neither John Hancock Advisers, LLC nor Dimensional Fund Advisors LP makes any warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by a fund, owners of the shares of a fund, or any other person or entity from the use of an underlying index, trading based on an underlying index, or any data included therein, either in connection with a fund or for any other use. Neither John Hancock Advisers, LLC nor Dimensional Fund Advisors LP makes any express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims all warranties, of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to an underlying index or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall either John Hancock Advisers, LLC or Dimensional Fund Advisors LP have any liability for any special, punitive, direct, indirect, or consequential damages, including lost profits, arising out of matters relating to the use of an underlying index, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

A fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses should be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the fund. To obtain a prospectus, contact your financial professional, call John Hancock Investments at 800-225-5291, or visit our website at jhinvestments.com/etf. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

John Hancock ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC, and are subadvised by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Foreside is not affiliated with John Hancock Funds, LLC or Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

* Conditions apply: Trades in ETFs available through Schwab ETF OneSource™ (including Schwab ETFs™) are available without commissions when placed online in a Schwab account. Service charges apply for trade orders placed through a broker ($25) or by automated phone ($5). An exchange processing fee applies to sell transactions. Certain types of Schwab ETF OneSource transactions are not eligible for the commission waiver, such as short sells and buys to cover (not including Schwab ETFs). Schwab reserves the right to change the ETFs we make available without commissions. All ETFs are subject to management fees and expenses.

NOT FDIC INSURED. MAY LOSE VALUE. NO BANK GUARANTEE. NOT INSURED BY ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

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SOURCE John Hancock Investments